Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
Zenzele would like to be a field ranger one day. She also wants to get married. Her dream is to be able to support her mother financially, as well as her 11 year old son.
Black Mamba units regularly patrol more than 20km in one day. To try and stop rhino’s from being hunted to extinction, Balule head warden and founder Craig Spencer created the Black Mambas, specially trained, local women, who often come from the same community as the poachers, to patrol the reserve.
From left to right: Black Mambas Leitah, Lukie (background), Nkateko, Cute and Qolile, Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
Balule Nature Reserve is a protected area in Limpopo Province, South Africa, which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park as a member of the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR). As part of a wildlife conservation initiative, all fences separating APNR reserves- Balule, Timbavati, Klaserie, Umbabat, Grietjie and Kruger National Park have been removed.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
The Black Mamba's approach, unarmed patrolling, might seem strange, even dangerous, but it’s clear the solution to poaching does not only lie in the use of heavily armed soldiers, drones and GPS locators.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Lukie was unemployed and looking for a job when a relative told her about the Black Mambas.“Poaching is very bad. It is important that animals live. The next generation must know the rhinos and elephants in life. If poaching is allowed they will only see these animals in a picture. This is not right.”
"I am strong, I am a woman and I bite like a Mamba!"
Thato, 20 years old, joined in 2016. As one of several drivers, Thato is responsible for getting the patrols safely to and from camp, as well as transporting equipment between the camps, and is paid more than regular Black Mambas.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
Yenzekile, a Black Mamba scout, reports the location and condition of a dead Kudu. The Kudu had been shot, although it was not clear by whom. When Yenzekile returned the next day, the kudu was gone. Balule consists of a number of smaller, privately owned parks, some of which allow hunting as a form of income for the park.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
Nkateko inspects a hole under a Balule Reserve fence for signs of poachers, Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015. It is not always clear who digs these holes. As well as poachers, various species of animals will dig under the fence to either get out of- or into the reserve.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Three Black Mamba’s, and their driver, use the light of a full moon to look for poachers from the top of their jeep. Full moon is when poachers are at their most active, making use of the moonlight to spot their prey. The Black Mambas use the same moonlight to hunt the poachers.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2015.
Black Mambas Cute & Qolile on foot patrol, Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
Black Mamba Nkateko collects plastic and other trash daily on her patrols, Balule Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa, 2017.
Hluvukani, South Africa, 2017.
Black Mamba Leitah and Black Mamba Goodness play with Black Mamba Qolile’s baby son, Renold, Hluvukani, Manyeleti, South Africa, 2017. The Black Mambas are a close knit unit outside the reserve as well as inside. Several are related, or live in the same villages.
Black Mamba Belinda is home schooling her daughter Acacia. Tamia reads along. Hluvukani, Manyeleti, South Africa, 2017.
Black Mamba Belinda, her mother Juliette holding Troy, Belinda’s nephew, her sisters daughter Tamia, nephew Mphndo, her daughter Acacia and baby Saint, Hluvukani, Manyeleti, South Africa, 2017.
Hluvukani, South Africa, 2017.
At home, Black Mamba Leitah and her son Clayton watch television. Many of the Black Mambas are single mothers, who only get to see their children for the nine days they are home on leave every month. Most children stay with relatives, or in communal houses that multiple siblings share.
Hluvukani, Manyeleti, South Africa, 2017.
Black Mamba Nkateko is folding the fresh washed school uniform of her younger sister Rirhandzu, Hluvukani, Manyeleti, South Africa, 2017.
Black Mamba Everjoy in her family's kitchen, Hluvukani, Manyeleti, South Africa, 2017.
Hluvukani, Manyeleti, South Africa, 2017.
Black Mamba Yenzekile in her bedroom that she shares with her sister Black Mamba Qolile, Hluvukani, Manyeleti, South Africa, 2017. Yenzekile is about 7 months pregnant and on maternity leave.
Black Mamba’s Leitah, Yenzekile, Mirren with her two children, Goodness with Qolile’s baby Renold and Qolile walking towards a field to pick up some vegetables, Hluvukani, Manyeleti, South Africa, 2017.
Hluvukani, Manyeleti, South Africa, 2017